Finalists decided in annual workplace safety award

Finalists decided in annual workplace safety awards

The finalists in the NZ Workplace Health and Safety Awards for 2010 have been decided from among the more than 120 entries received.

The winners in each of the 10 competitive categories, and a supreme winner, will be announced at a gala dinner at SKYCITY Convention Centre in Auckland on 15 June.

The awards are organised by Thomson Reuters, publisher of Safeguard magazine, and proudly supported by the Department of Labour. The awards dinner is timed to coincide with the Safeguard National Health and Safety Conference.

Safeguard managing editor Peter Bateman says the awards are now in their sixth year and are well established as an annual highlight for the wide range of people involved in the prevention of injury and ill-health arising from work.

“Health and safety people are the unsung heroes of the New Zealand workplace and thoroughly deserve one night of celebration each year.”

Too often, he says, health and safety issues feature in the media only after a workplace fatality. The awards are an opportunity to celebrate the good news about health and safety, and to share knowledge about initiatives that have worked well.

“Health and safety practitioners are by nature collegial and more than willing to share their thinking with others. The awards help to highlight good work and to assist in spreading innovative and effective ideas more widely.”

The category finalists, in alphabetic order within category, are:

Air New Zealand best initiative to address a safety hazard
. Hawkins Environmental, Auckland
. Transpacific Waste, Hastings
. Tumu Timbers, Hastings

Department of Labour best initiative to address a health hazard
. Air New Zealand
. KiwiRail, Wellington
. Total Bridge Services, Auckland

OfficeMax best initiative to improve employee wellness
. Air New Zealand
. Log Transport Safety Council, Tokoroa
. Pernod Ricard, Auckland

NZ Safety best initiative to encourage engagement in health & safety
. Antarctica NZ, Christchurch
. Metrowater, Auckland
. Progressive Enterprises, Auckland
. Satara Cooperative, Te Puke

SICK best use of design to eliminate or isolate a hazard
. Otaki Fire Brigade
. Sinclair Knight Merz, Auckland
. Wellington Free Ambulance

Transfield Services best health and safety initiative by a small business
. G T Liddell Contracting, Greymouth
. Kimmy’s Moto-X Park, Huntly
. Sorensen Furniture, Wanganui

Impac best significant health and safety initiative by a large organisation
. Air New Zealand
. Fletcher Building
. Fonterra Cooperative Group

ACC best leadership of an industry sector
. Douglas Manufacturing, Auckland
. Onyx Group, Auckland
. Pak N Save, Hastings
. Prime Forest Management, Rotorua

Safeguard health and safety practitioner of the year
. Adrian Brown (Lincoln University, Canterbury)
. Denver Galloway (Progressive Enterprises, Auckland)
. Jodi Wright (Acrow, Auckland)

Ross Wilson – NZCTU most influential employee
. Darren Morris (WPI International, Tangiwai)
. Destine Roycroft (Quality Bakers, Rotorua)
. Ed Fili (CHEP NZ, Auckland)

The judging panel of five included representatives from the Department of Labour, ACC, the NZ Council of Trade Unions, Safeguard, and one of the finalists in the health and safety practitioner category from last year.

ENDS

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